I Text Dead People Page 5

  Millie? How did she get the number? Even Anna didn’t know what the phone number was. And she had told Millie the battery was dead, so how did Millie know she’d get the message?

  “So weird,” Anna mumbled.

  “That must’ve been important, huh?”

  Anna looked up at Bouncy Girl; she’d forgotten she was there. “Not really. I was just surprised.”

  “Yeah, I’m surprised whenever I get a message too.” Bouncy Girl looked down at her lap as she rotated her gold bracelet several times. Anna felt bad for her. Nobody deserved to be completely alone.

  Suddenly Bouncy Girl looked straight at Anna. “I have an idea.” A smile slowly crept across her face. “Let’s exchange numbers.”

  The hopeful look in her eyes tore at Anna’s heart. She couldn’t very well tell her it wasn’t her phone; the girl had watched her get a text message on it only seconds earlier. And to tell her that, she’d have to tell the whole story, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to do that either.

  “Okay.” Anna nodded. “Except…I’m not exactly sure what the number is for this phone. It’s kinda new.” She hoped that didn’t sound too lame, but at least that was the truth.

  “It’s fine. Let me put my number in yours.”

  Anna handed her phone over and watched as the girl added her number and then used it to call her own phone. “All set. Now I have your number too.” She held her phone up so Anna could see what the number to her new mystery phone really was, just before the bell rang.

  “See ya around!” said Bouncy Girl as she seemed to bounce away, her mood definitely lifted.

  Anna gave a small wave, but her smile was completely wiped from her face as she looked down and saw Bouncy Girl’s name in her phone.

  She was the girl Olivia had been making fun of the day before.

  Lucy Edwards.

  After school, Anna dropped off her books in her room, then quickly slipped out her back gate. She still thought it was kind of strange that Millie wanted to meet at the cemetery. But even stranger? She spotted Millie in the grass, sitting on a small, spread-out blanket, shaded by a large oak, with her backpack at her feet. She looked like she was ready for a picnic with the dead. Other than her, the place was deserted.

  “Hey,” Anna called out. Millie looked up as she walked over, and smiled as Anna sat down next to her. Her legs were wedged between the graves of Margaret Meyers, to Millie’s right, and Dorothy Quinn on her left.

  Anna hoped Millie hadn’t seen her come out of the house. “So, what made you choose these friends?” Anna asked, nodding toward the graves.

  “Actually,” said Millie, “I felt kind of bad for this one.” She moved to the side so Anna could see the gravestone behind her. It read JANE DOE. “Sad, right?” she sighed. “She doesn’t have any flowers. Nobody even knows she’s here.”

  Anna nodded. “Yeah, that is sad.”

  “I guess not many people visit this cemetery. Some think it’s haunted. Especially at midnight. Or deadtime.”

  Anna raised an eyebrow.

  “Deadtime,” Millie explained, “is three a.m., when the spirits of the dead are most active. Or so I’ve heard.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t believe in all that ghost stuff.”

  “Me neither. So, I got something for you!” Millie said, changing the subject. She grabbed her schoolbag, pulled out a bunch of bundled cords, and set them in front of Anna.

  “What’s this?”

  “It’s for your phone.”

  “My phone?”

  “You know, the one you found.” She handed Anna a pink sparkly case. “I think this will fit it. And I had an extra charger, and headphones, and—”

  “I can’t take all this.”

  “Sure you can! It’s just sitting around collecting dust. I don’t need it anymore. And now we can actually text each other.” Millie seemed more excited than Anna.

  “Well…thanks.” Maybe she could charge the phone and then look through it and figure out who it belonged to.

  “No problem.” Millie waved her hand dismissively. “So…you’ve practically taken over as the most talked-about girl in school.”

  Anna nodded. “It’s like I can feel the whispers and eyes of the entire school every time I move.”

  “It probably didn’t help that you just sat in Olivia’s seat, at her lunch table,” Millie laughed. “Trying to take her place already?”

  “What?” Anna asked, horrified. No wonder that group had all looked at her in shock at first. Could she have made a worse decision? Only two days at the school and she’d stolen the most popular girl’s seat at lunch.

  Millie smiled ruefully, as if reading her mind. “It’ll go away.”

  “You think?” Anna asked.

  Millie shrugged. “I’ve seen the wrath of Olivia. And usually the damages don’t last for too long. Once she finds something new in her path to destroy, you’ll be old news.”

  “I hope you’re right. She doesn’t bother you, right?”

  “I’ve been blending in forever. But whatever. I gave up on the popular thing a long time ago. I pretty much consider popularity evil.”

  Anna picked up a piece of grass and smoothed it with her nail. “So what wrath did you witness?”

  Millie paused. “Olivia caught some girl kissing her boyfriend.”

  “Johnny?”

  “What? No, Johnny’s not her boyfriend. At least, I don’t think so.”

  Anna felt her heart beat faster with this news.

  “So who was the guy?” Anna asked.

  Millie ducked her head. “I’m sure you wouldn’t know him.”

  “Try me,” Anna said.

  Millie shrugged. “Some guy named Spencer.”

  “Spencer?” Anna echoed. She looked at Millie and noticed she was biting back a smile. Did Millie like that arrogant nerdy-cute guy with the camera?

  “Have you met him?” Millie asked.

  Anna nodded. “He just helped me with my locker this morning.”

  “Hmm,” Millie said. As she rambled on about her classes, Anna’s mind was still dwelling on Johnny’s not having a girlfriend. Spencer was kind of cute in a nerdy sort of way, but he was totally off-limits if Millie liked him. And it really surprised her that Olivia liked him too. She seemed more like a girl who preferred football players.

  Like Johnny.

  “Can I ask you something?” Anna leaned in.

  “Sure.”

  “I ran into this creepy guy around here yesterday morning. And”—she lowered her voice to a whisper—“he threatened me.”

  “Seriously? What did he look like?”

  As Anna described the guy to her, Millie wrinkled her forehead. “I think I know who it was. His name’s Vincent. He sounds psycho, but I wouldn’t worry too much about him. His bark is worse than his bite.”

  Anna’s eyes widened. “You know him?”

  “Yeah. He’s a senior and went to our school a few years back. He’s homeschooled now. I heard he does odd jobs around town. I guess that includes cemetery groundskeeper.”

  “A psycho cemetery groundskeeper. Great.”

  “He sounds like a jerk. Probably was trying to scare you. Just ignore him. I doubt you’ll run into him again. It’s not like you’re over here every day or something.”

  “What? No, of course not. Why would I be over here every day?” Anna giggled, biting her bottom lip.

  “Okay, well, I gotta run.” Millie stood up, dusting off the back of her pants. “Lots of homework.”

  “Me too.” Anna helped Millie shove the blanket into her bag. “Thanks for all the stuff.”

  “No prob. Text me later?”

  “Sure.” Anna gathered up the phone equipment but waited until Millie had turned the corner and was out of sight before walking the few feet back to her house.

  • • •

  As soon as Anna got home, she charged the phone, then scrolled through the contacts. There wasn’t much there. Just some random numbers without any names
. The initials AT were next to one number. There were some photos stored in the picture folder: a Halloween mask, a headstone with a blurry name. Was it Ashley Martin? Ashton Marvin? Anna couldn’t tell.

  And then there were several text messages saved from AT. She read through the latest conversation:

  I’ve got it.

  Great. You remember what to do?

  Of course. It’s all set.

  Remember—don’t breathe a word of this.

  Right.

  No contacts, no photos of friends, only a few texts…it was like whoever owned the phone had known they were going to lose it. Or been afraid it might fall into the wrong hands.

  Creepy.

  The rest of the week flew by. It was finally Friday, which meant that all day, Anna overheard conversations about weekend plans. By the time school was over, it was clear that she would be doing the one thing everybody seemed to be talking about: going to the Ashbury party.

  Back in Sacramento, Anna had spent her weekends doing homework and writing in her journal, or with her nose buried in a good book. Every weekend. And she wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but she used to dream about being popular—having more friends than she could count and plans that always seemed to conflict with other plans she forgot she had already made.

  Millie wasn’t in class, so Anna headed to the lunch line alone. She grabbed an apple and a bottle of water and paid the cashier before heading toward the empty table by the fire exit. She expected to see the familiar faces of the two brothers who sometimes sat there quietly, playing on their phones.

  But today was different. Only one person sat there. A girl. With blue eyes and bouncy hair.

  Lucy.

  Anna hadn’t talked to her since Tuesday at lunch, when Lucy had given Anna her number. It wasn’t like she had been avoiding her; Lucy just hadn’t been around.

  Through all the whispers and stares since, Anna still had no idea why Lucy was one of the least liked girls in the school, but she had an idea it must have something to do with Olivia. It seemed Olivia could make you or break you, when it came to school.

  Anna felt awkward. Should she go sit with Lucy or walk outside and find a spot away from everyone?

  Anna made a quick turn and walked to the cafeteria exit. Once she made it into the courtyard beside the cafeteria, she began to relax. A few students were eating lunch and reading. She decided she’d pick one of these benches and make the outdoors her new lunch spot. Well, when the weather allowed it.

  Anna tossed her messenger bag onto the bench and made herself comfy while pulling out her journal. Pencil in hand and notebook in lap, she started writing as she nibbled on her apple. The sunlight beaming down on her quickly warmed her, despite the cool breeze.

  Then a shadow fell over her and she looked up. Olivia stood there, smirking. Instead of saying anything, Anna sat there silently, staring back at her like an idiot. How did this girl have so much power over her?

  “Annabel,” Olivia said, tilting her head to the side. “Are you still coming to my party tonight?”

  “Yeah. Sure.” Although Anna didn’t feel so sure. Was this Olivia’s way of trying to uninvite her?

  “Okay. Well, Eden thought you might need the address.” Olivia handed her a folded-up piece of paper. “Unless you have a phone now?” She raised a questioning eyebrow.

  Anna shook her head, taking the paper.

  “Didn’t think so. Well, see you tonight. And by the way, good decision you made in the lunchroom.” Olivia winked, flipped her straight hair over her bony shoulder, and walked away.

  • • •

  The music blared as Anna made her way up the driveway to the Ashbury mansion. In her old neighborhood, people would have been shaking their fists and complaining about this kind of noise coming through their thin walls and into their closet-sized apartments. Here, the nearest neighbor was a quarter mile away.

  Anna walked up to a massive stone entryway and rang the bell, and a maid answered the door, ushering her through the house to the backyard, where a covered pool area opened out onto the beach. Anna felt as if she had just walked onto a movie set. White chaise lounges flanked the pool, and hundreds of tea lights decorated the area.

  The deck was crowded with people, talking and dancing to the blaring music. She could feel the bass vibrating through the floor. There was a snack table on one side of the deck and a DJ on the other. It was the loudest, most chaotic scene Anna had ever witnessed.

  She spotted Johnny and Olivia and headed toward them. At the same moment another girl who apparently also had her eyes on Johnny bounded toward them.

  “Johnny!” the girl screamed.

  “Hi, Olivia.” Anna gave a slight wave.

  “Hey, Anna.” Olivia smiled coolly. “Glad you made it.”

  Anna let out a nervous laugh. “Thanks for inviting me. Your home is so…”

  “Magnificent? Surreal? Fit for a queen?” Olivia suggested.

  “Uh, yes. Definitely. All of the above,” Anna said, not sure whether Olivia was joking.

  Olivia’s ice-white hair was pinned up in a twist, with long tendrils hanging down. Her lips were stained pink and her eyelids were made up with a smoky eye shadow. And of course she was wearing pink from head to toe. Her skirt had a slit up the side, and her satiny shirt was almost backless, with a plunging neckline in the front. Anna knew her mom would kill her if she even thought about wearing an outfit like that.

  “That’s Harper,” Olivia said, looking at the girl talking to Johnny.

  “Did I hear my name?” The girl draped an arm across Olivia’s shoulder.

  “This is Annabel. She’s new.” Olivia unenthusiastically waved her hand in Anna’s direction as if she were swishing away a pesky fly.

  “Right. The new girl. Hi,” Harper said sweetly.

  Johnny took a sip from his cup. “So where’s your sister, Olivia?”

  Olivia frowned. “How should I know? We’re not joined at the hip.” She turned to Anna. “It’s funny. People think twins have this whole mind-connection thing, but we don’t.”

  “You sure?” Eden appeared next to them, smiling, almost as if the timing had been planned.

  “I knew it!” shouted Johnny.

  Everyone laughed except Olivia. Eden stood close to Johnny, tilting her head toward him, her diamond earrings catching the light.

  The closest Anna had ever come to owning diamonds was a pair of cubic zirconia stud earrings given to her by her grandma. They were so shiny and dazzling, she’d thought for sure they were the real thing. Until a week later, when they’d turned her ears green.

  “You know,” Eden said, studying Anna, “with some new clothes and a little makeup, you’d look awesome. Fit right in.”

  “Um, thanks?” Anna looked over at Johnny and Harper staring at her curiously. What was she supposed to say?

  “Great. I have a fabulous hairdresser I can recommend.”

  “My mom does my hair.”

  “Your mom?” Olivia snickered. “That explains a lot.”

  “Don’t listen to her.” Eden waved her hand at her sister. “I can take you to my girl. She’s fabulous!”

  “I meant, my mom is a hairdresser. Actually, she works at Twisted.” Anna nervously rotated her silver bracelets around her wrist. Could she possibly stumble over her words more if she tried?

  “Who’s your mom?” Eden asked.

  “Valerie Craven. She—”

  Eden raised an eyebrow. “Val is your mom?”

  Anna nodded.

  “No way! That’s who we go to! Olivia, check it out, Val is Anna’s mom.”

  Anna could feel her face getting red. In what universe was her mom more popular than she was?

  “Whatever.” Olivia looked down at her phone. “Hey, Harper, do me a fave and check the ice, pretty please?” Olivia smiled sweetly and batted her long lashes. “If it’s running low, just tell the help, okay? Thanks.”

  Harper walked away without saying a word. Anna wondered if she was
actually going to let Olivia order her around like that.

  “She seems nice,” Anna found herself saying lamely, just to break the silence.

  Eden turned to her and whispered in her ear, “You should be careful. Not everyone is who they pretend to be.”

  Johnny checked his phone, frowning.

  “What’s wrong?” Eden asked.

  “Nothin’. Just a text.”

  Olivia peered over Johnny’s shoulder as he held the screen out to show her.

  “Oh geez, give me that!” Olivia swiped Johnny’s phone right out of his hand. Laughing, she pushed a few buttons, then handed it back to him.

  “Done. Problem solved,” she said with a smirk.

  Eden laughed. “She probably butt-dialed you. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had you on all her speed dials.”

  Anna had no idea who she could be. But whoever it was, they obviously didn’t like her.

  Anna stood self-consciously as Eden and Olivia pulled Johnny off into the crowd. She loved people-watching, but she felt kind of alone. Everyone seemed to be hanging within their own cliques. Anna knew she should be bold. She’d have to meet new people sometime. So she walked over to a group of guys and girls. A guy with sandy-brown hair who looked like a skater and was holding some girl’s hand was talking about riding the waves. Anna stood nearby and listened to the end of a story he was telling.

  “That’s awesome, Mike,” a guy said. “You’re so lucky he didn’t catch you.”

  The group shifted slightly and Anna was suddenly boxed out. Feeling awkward, she turned to walk away, knowing she wasn’t blending, and bumped into a girl with dark brown hair and expensive highlights, spilling her drink all over her.

  “Watch it!” the girl shouted.

  “I’m so sorry!” Anna was mortified. She looked around for napkins, but the girl stormed off.

  Anna wandered over to a snack table. Maybe coming here had been a mistake. Another girl was crunching away on some chips, scanning the crowd.

  “Millie!” Anna exclaimed, relief washing over her. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.” She felt guilty about not telling her about the party, but Millie hadn’t said anything to her either about coming. I guess we’re even, she thought, grabbing a handful of pretzels.